“Happy Valley is a drama that has been lauded for its realism and dramatic pathos – as such the dialogue is representative of the characters and area in which it is based.

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“We trust it didn’t interfere with the audience enjoyment of the opening episode which was watched by 6.5 million,” said a BBC spokesman.

Even local fans watching the show are struggling to grasp the dialect on the hugely popular show, filmed in Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge, Huddersfield, Elland and other areas across Kirklees, Calderdale and Bradford.

Tommy Lee Royce (JAMES NORTON)

Proud Yorkshireman Mike Shaw, a retired journalist who dealt with Yorkshire folk all his working life, was not amused.

“It’s soa bad that some of us ‘ave ter ‘ave t’sub-tahtles on soa we can folla wat’s gooun in.

“Can ter do summat abaat it if tha dooant mahn?

“It’s a reight shame cos ‘Appy Valley’s a reight good programme”.

Many others took to social media to voice their views - complete with accent and dialects!

Jo Cadden: What a joke bbc telling me I don’t understand Yorkshire dialect?! Get stretched you soft southern wazzacks. .. I’m Yorkshire through and through - there is something wrong with the sound on Happy Valley nowt to do wi ‘dialect! Can bbc explain why I have to turn the volume right up to follow the dialog?!

David Ringrose: That’s nonsense coming from the BBC, its clearly not the dialect as us Yorkshire folk are struggling to hear it too. It must be how the show was recorded.

Sandra Dixon: Its nothing to do with the Yorkshire dialect I’m from Yorkshire but they are just mumbling or BBC have failed in filming it!!!

Collette Serene Campbell: Also war and peace,I don’t think it’s Yorkshire accent it’s the bbc ,I am a Liverpudlian and I understand the dialect !!!

Chris Hardy: When I turned up the volume it wss just louder mumbling. Sarah Lancashire is usually brilliant so why is she mumbling, or do we all mumble in Yorkshire?

Alan Browne: There was BBC period drama on a while ago,set in Cornwall,i forget the name of said prog,the BBC were inundated with complaints about low sound quality, they even showed a wee bit on have I got news for you, and yes, the sound was terrible,and guess what? The beeb blamed it on the Cornish accent!! Racists!!

Margaret Lansdell: Yorkshire born and bred but have trouble hearing it sounds muffely, missing half of what’s going on , glad to know that its not just me !!!!

Zanna McMoran: I have no problem with the sound or dialect don’t know if the poor quality is a regional problem or not but not for us in Northern Ireland. Love the programme.

Lidia Shinwell: I found it particularly hard to hear in last weeks show! Friends did too! We’re all Yorkshire ladies so we understand the dialect. The sound quality was not right.